Homestays in Penang, Malaysia

The room was quite spacious, but it was incredibly noisy at night. Our room, 1207, faced the street, and the sound of motorcycle engines was very loud, making it difficult to sleep. The air conditioning in the master bedroom and the exhaust fan in the bathroom were also very noisy; you could hear a clear difference in a video I took when they were on and off. Sleeping with the AC on was too loud, but sleeping with just the fan was too hot, and combined with the noise from the motorcycles outside, I really didn't get good rest. I tried to change rooms, but was told they were fully booked, so I had to stay there for three nights. Since it's an apartment, there was no bottled water. The bathroom only had a single, very basic all-in-one shower gel/shampoo. You'll need to bring your own toothpaste and other toiletries, so keep that in mind if you're planning to stay here.

The location is convenient and the place is clean, but check-out time is too early at 11 AM 😫. I asked if I could check out later, until 12 PM at most. My phone didn't have service, so I didn't see their messages until after 12 PM. They kept messaging, and when I finally got service at 1 PM, I was told I had to pay a 100 fine for late check-out. We had actually already left by 12 PM. To avoid any trouble, I just paid it directly.

Certainly! Below is a **detailed, balanced, and constructive review template** for **Hangoutspacez Queensbay** (or a similar budget/co-living space in Penang). Since this isn’t a widely documented property, I’ll structure it generically so you can adapt it based on your actual experience. --- ### **Hangoutspacez Queensbay – Honest Review** **Location: ★★★★☆** (4/5) - **Pros:** Close to Queensbay Mall (5–10 min walk), easy access to restaurants, supermarkets, and public transport. Convenient for business travelers (Bayan Lepas tech zone) or tourists exploring Penang’s south. - **Cons:** Not in the heart of tourist spots like George Town (requires Grab/taxi). **Cleanliness: ★★★☆☆** (3.5/5) - **Pros:** Daily cleaning for common areas; linens provided are fresh. - **Cons:** Occasional maintenance issues (e.g., slow drain in showers, worn-out furniture). Budget vibe—don’t expect luxury. **Facilities: ★★★☆☆** (3/5) - **Pros:** Free WiFi (decent speed), communal kitchen, and lounge area. Good for solo travelers or digital nomads. - **Cons:** No gym/pool; shared bathrooms can get crowded during peak hours. **Staff & Service: ★★★★☆** (4/5) - Friendly and helpful for local tips, but limited 24/7 front desk support. **Value for Money: ★★★★☆** (4/5) - Affordable for Penang (around RM50–100/night for dorms). Ideal for short stays, but may lack long-term comforts. **Room for Improvement:** 1. **Better Soundproofing** – Noise from common areas can be heard in private rooms. 2. **More Power Outlets** – Limited charging points in dorms. 3. **Clearer House Rules** – E.g., quiet hours or kitchen cleanup policies. **Verdict:** A **no-frills, social budget stay** best suited for backpackers, solo travelers, or those attending nearby events. Manage expectations—it’s functional but not luxurious. --- ### **How to Use This Review Constructively:** - **If You’re a Traveler:** Compare with alternatives (e.g., Tune Hotel, capsule hostels). Prioritize location vs. price. - **If You’re the Property Owner:** Address cleanliness/maintenance, add clear signage for rules and maybe create any accessible lockers available to utilize the space in the efficient manner.

You need to proactively contact the hotel before check-in, and they will send you a message with the access code and room number. The check-in process was quite fun, like a treasure hunt. The room was nice and very spacious! There's a great durian shop within walking distance that we visited several times during our stay. 😍 In the suite we stayed in, one of the bathrooms had an issue with no shower water. It wasn't fixed even after maintenance tried. Luckily, our whole family could use the other bathroom. Downstairs, there's a convenience store and a bakery, which made breakfast very convenient.

Overall we are satisfied with this hotel but there are one thing I want to highlight. After check out the lady whom I liased with when I checked in told me that there are a burn mark on the bedsheet & also mattress protector and she will forfeit my deposit of RM50. I then asked my niece who slept on that bed & she said the burn mark was initially there but she doesn’t know that she must inform us about it. I’ve tried to explained to her many times that my 11 years old niece was sleeping on that bed & none of us in that room smoke or using any electrical appliances such as hair iron or curling iron or which non of us have with us so how can we the burn mark appeared there. She kept insisting that it was a fresh burn mark and she won’t let her hotel guests sleep with a burn mark bedsheet. This is totally a scam to us as I travel with my mum, my husband, niece (11 years old) & nephew (10 years old) could caused the damage as claimed. I do not have choices but just accept it as the lady keep saying that my deposit is not even enough to cover. Am not sure why they used such a tactic towards a family with kids and I have never had this problem in my entire booking with Trip.com. It was our mistake that we didn’t check the hotel room condition as we checked in very late - 8:26pm and all of us are really tired from travelling long journey. I’d say it was caused by their own staff which are 2 Bangladeshi guys who handle housekeeping but they blamed it on my family. Of course they won’t admit it as the lady keep saying they won’t provide burn bedsheet. This is totally not fair to me and one of the staff keep insisting me to pay the deposit when I arrived.

This is a homestay, a pretty good one! Add the landlord on WeChat in advance, and you will get answers to any questions. You can communicate with any questions first, and any problems during your stay can be solved smoothly. The suite is a building in a building, with a large space that can accommodate 5-6 people. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room can see the sea view without dead ends. The room facilities are very complete, even equipped with washing and drying machines, kitchen utensils, tableware, etc. It is a good choice for travelers who stay longer and have cooking needs. But I still emphasize that this is a homestay, there will be no hotel services, no daily room cleaning, garbage cleaning, towel and bed sheet replacement and other services (if there is a need, you need to contact the landlord in advance and arrange at your own expense), so if you can't accept this form of accommodation, it is recommended not to choose it!

The young girl staff very polite and friendly I feel touch The location is very conveniently Outside from the hostel just opposite there has many of restaurants and shops It has different types of food and desserts The price is reasonable It’s quite clean Call grab is convenient also I think I will be back again

- Location is strategic - Cleanliness is good, all plug points can be used and wifi connection is strong too. - limited parking space, - Self check-in, owner will give you instruction before you arrived. - feels like home. - good place to stay.

Cleanliness still got room for improvement. No freeze Location well convenient for foods and goods purchased

A nice capsule bed. i had a quiet night and very pleasant stay here for the 3D2N. The Location, cleanliness, and service are all excellent. Another thing is that we were able to enjoy and experience the breathtaking New Year's countdown fireworks from the historic skyline of Georgetown City at the hotel's common area terrace. See the photo taken during that time below. First of all, the hotel itself is absolutely beautiful. The Malaysian Chinese lady owner was incredibly kind and always willing to help, which made my stay feel even more welcoming and personal. As soon as you step outside the hotel, many major tourist attractions are within walking distance, so the location is very convenient. Aside from that, the room was very clean, cozy, and charming, perfectly capturing the old Penang vibe. Overall, it’s a simple, compact, and lovely hotel that I truly enjoyed and would happily recommend. Overall, the experience at the hotel was really fun, there are many good features about it, such as the location, and the facilities. And the price is affordable too. Thanks for a wonderful time. Housekeeping change towel every day. Is a Great location, lots of restaurants, great staff, the bathroom is downstairs but it's OK. I would definitely recommend it Basic but all you need for a short stay! Great wifi and aircon, and such a convenient location.